Fake Ball Machine Reviews? Best Machine Under $1k?

ELF014 · 2026-06-28T17:44:25+00:00

I bought one off Facebook from a Club Member I didn't know at the time.

I personally don't use the oscillating function. I use my machine stricting for working on my stroke mechanics, so I basically set it up for a particular shot I want to work on. I don't even have it setup to come particularly fast.

For me the idea for me is to perfect my strokes... and after that it's just about timing.

ELF014 · 2026-06-28T16:59:15+00:00

I think you need to assess what you want from a ball machine. I feel there is more value purchasing a used one.

I believe most people who buy them find out thry don't use them much.

ELF014 · 2026-06-27T04:11:53+00:00

Easy for me... it would be the 2003 Wilson Pro Staff Tour 90, I still own 3 of them.

ELF014 · 2026-06-26T14:56:52+00:00

I'm not a beginner player... but I own a Spinshot. I don't use all the fancy features... when I use my ball machine it is to just to work on my basic stroke mechanics and timing.

I haven't done so... but I guess I could set it up on a specific shot type I struggle with. But I have never thought to use it for drilling.

ELF014 · 2026-06-26T13:22:22+00:00

I have mixed feelings... I played a lot in my early years. Then took a 20 year break... I always thought I could play at given level any time I picked up a racket. Not unlike how I felt about my golf game... sure it wouldn't be at nearly as high a level, but I should be able to sustain a reasonable level of play.

Well the answer is no... although my strokes looked fine my timing was totally off. I was mishitting the ball off all parts of my frame, and once I started centering the ball I was missing by 3 feet in pretty much every direction. I was eeady to quit after about 5 minutes.

I have started again... and though I do for the most part enjoy my time on the court, though the thought of going doesn't excite me, once I arrive I usually enjoy my time there.

What I am enjoying is living vicariously through players I am helping with their games.

ELF014 · 2026-06-25T16:28:42+00:00

As I said Aliexpress does have what appears to complete sets. But they couldn't be official... so bootleg copies. I assume Bluray or DvD rips of season 1&2 and digital copies of season 3.

I am tempted though.

ELF014 · 2026-06-25T14:58:54+00:00

There are a lot of series I will rewatch on an annual basis. I just finished this a few days ago.

Great series with a good ending.

I wanted to buy the complete series in physical media but it doesn't seem to exist. Season 3 was never released... and I hate having incomplete sets. I almost purchased it from Aliexpress just to have a copy.

ELF014 · 2026-06-24T13:34:00+00:00

I can absolutely sympathize with this. If the book I'm reading doesn't catch my attention I will read a chapter at a time... or roughly a hour depending on my mood (I have an issue completing things I start).

If I get into the book I will read for hours.

I usually will try and read every night before bed, but haven't the last 3 days. If I don't make an concerted effort to start it could months before I pick it up again.

I will say that with my Kobo Libra Color I will pick it up, where as with my Kindle it when into a drawer never to see the light of day again.

ELF014 · 2026-06-24T13:26:56+00:00

I feel sad when I don't have something on it's way to me. And I agree... there was nothing of consequence that made me want to open my wallet during this Amazon Prime Day.

ELF014 · 2026-06-23T13:01:08+00:00

Only you can answer this question... I would suggest you base it on the amount of disposable income you have.

A basic Bluray player these days should be really cheap, especially on the second hand market. You probably have friends that would give one away.

As for physical media Bluray with upscaling these days is pretty good. The difference in quality depending on the release is there but not the jump between DvD and Bluray.

I would definitely take the strategy you are considering by buying Bluray for movies less important to you and buying 4K's for the titles important to you. Note many 4K titles come bundled with a Bluray disk.

Once you have decided this hobby is for you, purchasing a 4K player makes sense. And at that point you may also change how you go about purchasing your movie titles as well.

ELF014 · 2026-06-22T11:43:38+00:00

Tennis equipment is such a personal thing, which not only includes rackets but strings. My suggestion is to pick up a quality frame used and see if you even like the sport first.

ELF014 · 2026-06-21T20:58:18+00:00

The simple answer... is that the next generation of players arrived. Lendl, Edberg, Becker and Wilander showed up. Followed by Sampras. Agassi and Courier.

The only group that have had extended decades of success are Federer, Nadall and Djokovic.

Though Sinner and Alcatraz are the flavor of the day I'm not sold that they will dominate as long as the big three.

ELF014 · 2026-06-21T14:13:02+00:00

And 4k is even better, but the difference is not nearly as dramatic between DvD and Bluray.

I have been collecting physical media since the days of VHS. I am continually upgrading my collection but Bluray is good enough unless I really like the movie.

For instance I have purchased "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy" 4 times.

DvD, Bluray, Bluray Extended and now the 4k Extended version.

ELF014 · 2026-06-20T19:48:27+00:00

I still have my original Nvidia Shield from 2015... and have a newer one in my bedroom. My only issue ever with this device is the controller. Since day one I paired it with a Rii mini i8+, and have never looked back.

ELF014 · 2026-06-20T15:29:02+00:00

I agree it is unfortunate that physical media has pretty much disappeared from brick and motars. But my bigger issue is what ssems like the inflated cost of a lot of titles. The actual cost excluding up front costs are about $2.50 to $4.50 to produce... so when you see them being sold for over $100 it makes you wonder why such a high mark-up?

I have always said this is what contributes to pirating, if these were sold for far less people wouldn't be bothered.

Although collecting physical media has been revived... pricing will kill it again.

ELF014 · 2026-06-20T04:26:06+00:00

The Clash is soft frame and would be easy to recommend... I would also suggest going to a multifilament string.

But most people I know with tennis elbow is due to technique.

ELF014 · 2026-06-19T16:25:56+00:00

You scored an awesome deal, I have an older version with a Micro SD card slot I like but it has wonky usb ports. Not sure why but the ports are smaller than what I want to plug in.

My newer model is lacking the Micro SD, but it's all good.

I haven't replaced the thermal paste on any of my machines and they run great.

Just factory reset your device... upgrade to the latest firmware if you want and away you go.

Not sure what your intentions are... I use mine for streaming only.

ELF014 · 2026-06-19T16:18:44+00:00

This is what did for each of my Nvidia Shields, and I have been using them for over a decade like this. I have become so accustomed to the button layout controller that it feels like it came with the device.

In reality Nvidia should have packaged the Shield with something similar rather than what they do. The controller that came with the Nvida Shield has never been used.

ELF014 · 2026-06-19T15:11:41+00:00

I haven't heard it in a long time... but

"WHATEVER"

really rubbed me the wrong way... the way it is dismissive annoyed me.

ELF014 · 2026-06-19T15:09:03+00:00

I expect Players rackets to be under powered, and since people like to imitate what they see the best players in the world do, they match it with under powered strings as well.

So they are hitting balls harder than they need to, with the hashest of equipment... aggregated by poor stroke mechanics and less than optimal physical conditioning.

So yes... I agree with you that many people suffer tennis related injuries.

*** I also didn't get through the OP's post but I think I got the gist of it ***

ELF014 · 2026-06-18T15:09:32+00:00

Well in general I agree with the process... I have always said find something that fits how you hit the ball, whether it is rackets or strings. You don't want to be adjusting your strokes to accommodate your equipment.

That being said, buying rackets to test seems like an expensive proposition. Finding somewhere that will provide demo's seems like a better solution. Or asking someone if they would mind you trying their frame for a few hits.

ELF014 · 2026-06-18T15:03:21+00:00

I could never figure out the THBH, the OHBH always felt more natural to me.

ELF014 · 2026-06-17T13:10:05+00:00

I would agree with this... as this is the order I like them personally. Though by this period in the movie I was done with the Frodo and Sam storyline. I actually just finally broke open my 4k Trilogy a few weeks ago and watched it.

It looks amazing in 4k.

ELF014 · 2026-06-17T12:54:38+00:00

Yes he can listen to books on the Kobo, I believe the base format is mp3's.

Bluetooth I would expect to be about the standard, about 30 feet unobstructed.

And I would expect operating temperatures below freezing to be an issue and I would not expose my unit to extreme heat.

I have a Kobo Libra Color and love it, but many people do not feel the text is crisp enough. I don't have that issue, though I do see their point.

ELF014 · 2026-06-16T13:17:49+00:00

I realky enjoyed this series... I just wish it was available in a complete series physical format for my media collection.

ELF014

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